The Guinea Football Federation (Feguifoot) has called for fans to “celebrate carefully” after supporters died following the nation’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) win over The Gambia.
Aguibou Camara’s second-half goal clinched a 1-0 victory for Guinea in Friday’s Group C clash, sparking an outpouring of celebrations in Conakry, the Guinean capital.
In a social media post, Feguifoot stated that deaths were linked to the post-game scenes, with local media reporting that five people died in road accidents following the celebrations in Conakry on Friday night.
“We were deeply saddened by the loss of some of our supporters during the celebration of the victory against Gambia,” Feguifoot said. “Let’s celebrate carefully and take care of yourself.”
Feguifoot also shared a video on social media of many of their star players pleading for calmness from supporters after the incidents were reported.
Nous avons été profondément attristés par la perte de certains de nos supporters lors de la célébration de la victoire face à la Gambie 😔.
Célébrons avec prudence et faites attention à vous.#FGF | #GbinGbinSo pic.twitter.com/O7JDVYon10
— Fédération Guinéenne de Football (@fgfofficiel) January 21, 2024
Feguifoot media manager Amadou Makadji told BBC Sport Africa: “What is important is that our fans and the public celebrate in a very measured fashion.
“They have to be very careful to not put themselves in danger, because the goal of football is to bring joy and not leave families bereaved. We do not want deaths to mourn, so we call on everyone to celebrate but to take care of themselves so that nothing happens to them.
“Guinea is a country where people are very, very passionate about football and they experience football like nowhere else in the world.”
Guinea have never won AFCON with their best performance coming in 1976 as they finished runners-up to Morocco.
The west African nation have won just four of their last 19 matches in the tournament — a run stretching back to 2008.
Guinea face group leaders Senegal in Tuesday’s final match in which a win would seal top spot for Kaba Diawara’s side.
(ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP via Getty Images)
Read the full article here
